Instructions to Prepare a Paper for the European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering
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VIII International Conference on Textile Composites and Inflatable Structures STRUCTURAL MEMBRANES 2017 K.-U.Bletzinger, E. Oñate and B. Kröplin (Eds) DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE ASYMPTOTIC PAVILION Eike Schling*, Denis Hitrec†, Jonas Schikore* and Rainer Barthel* * Chair of Structural Design, Faculty of Architecture, Technical University of Munich Arcisstr. 21, 80333 Munich, Germany e-mail: [email protected], web page: http://www.lt.ar.tum.de † Faculty of Architecture, University of Ljubljana Zoisova cesta 12, SI – 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia e-mail: [email protected] - web page: http://www.fa.uni-lj.si Key words: Asymptotic curves, Minimal Surfaces, Strained Gridshell. Summary. Digital tools have made it easy to design freeform surfaces and structures. The challenges arise later in respect to planning and construction. Their realization often results in the fabrication of many unique and geometrically-complex building parts. Current research at the Chair of Structural Design investigates curve networks with repetitive geometric parameters in order to find new, fabrication-aware design methods. In this paper, we present a method to design doubly-curved grid structures with exclusively orthogonal joints from flat and straight strips. The strips are oriented upright on the underlying surface, hence normal loads can be transferred via bending around their strong axis. This is made possible by using asymptotic curve networks on minimal surfaces 1, 2. This new construction method was tested in several prototypes from timber and steel. Our goal is to build a large- scale (9x12m) research pavilion as an exhibition and gathering space for the Structural Membranes Conference in Munich. In this paper, we present the geometric fundamentals, the design and modelling process, fabrication and assembly, as well as the structural analysis based on the Finite Element Method of this research pavilion. Figure 1 Prototype of an asymptotic gridshell. The structure is built from straight strips of steel. The lamellas are oriented normal to the design surface. All slot joints are identical and orthogonal. Image: (Eike Schling) Eike Schling, Denis Hitrec, Jonas Schikore and Rainer Barthel Figure 2: Grid structure based on asymptotic curves: The model is built from straight strips of beech veneer. All joints are orthogonal. Image: (Denis Hitrec) 1 INTRODUCTION There are a number of design strategies aiming to simplify the fabrication and construction process of doubly-curved grid structures. Therein, we can distinguish between discrete and smooth segmentations 3. One strategy, to build smoothly curved structures relies on the elastic deformation of its building components in order to achieve a desired curvilinear geometry from straight or flat elements 4. Consequently, there is a strong interest in the modelling and segmentation of geometry that can be unrolled into a flat state, such as developable surfaces 5. Recent publications have given a valuable overview on three specific curve types – geodesic curves, principal curvature lines, and asymptotic curves (Fig. 3) – that show great potential to be modelled as developable strips 6. Both geodesic curves and principle curvature lines have been successfully used for this purpose in architectural projects 7. However, there have been no applications of asymptotic curves for load-bearing structures. This is astounding, as asymptotic curves are the only type which are able to combine the benefits of straight unrolling and orthogonal nodes (Fig.2).1, 2 In this paper we present a method to design strained grid structures along asymptotic curves on minimal surfaces to benefit from a high degree of simplification in fabrication and construction. They can be constructed from straight strips orientated normal to the underlying surface. This allows for an elastic assembly via their weak axis, and a local transfer of normal loads via their strong axis. Furthermore, the strips form a doubly-curved network, enabling a global load transfer as a shell structure. 2 In Section 2, we describe the geometric theory of curvature and curve networks. In Section 3 we introduce our computational design method of modelling minimal surfaces, asymptotic curves and networks. In Section 4, we implement this method in the design of a research pavilion for the Structural Membranes Conference. In Section 5, we discuss the fabrication, construction details and assembly by means of two prototypes, in timber and steel. Section 6, gives insights into the local and global load-bearing behavior, and describes the structural analysis based on Finite Element Method. We summarize our results in Section 7 and conclude in Section 8, by highlighting challenges of this method, and suggesting future investigations on structural simulation and façade development. 2 Eike Schling, Denis Hitrec, Jonas Schikore and Rainer Barthel 2 FUNDAMETALS 2.1 Curvature of curves on surfaces To measure the curvature of a curve on a surface, we can combine the information of direction (native to the curve) and orientation (native to the surface) to generate a coordinate system called the Darboux frame (Fig.3 right). This frame consists of the normal vector z, the tangent vector x and their cross-product, the tangent-normal vector y. When moving the Darboux frame along the surface-curve, the velocity of rotation around all three axes can be measured. These three curvature types are called the geodesic curvature kg (around z), the 6 geodesic torsion tg (around x), and the normal curvature kn (around y) . z normal vector y kg kn r1 osculating circle darboux frame tg r x r2 tangent vector curvature k = 1 / r Gaussian curvature K = k1 x k2 kn = normal curvature mean curvature H = ( k1 + k2 ) / 2 kg = geodesic curvature tg = geodesic torsion Figure 3: Definitions of curvature. Left: Curvature of a curve is measured through the osculating circle. Middle: The Gaussian or mean curvature of a surface is calculated with the principle curvatures k1 and k2. Right: A curve on a surface displays normal curvature kn. geodesic curvature kg and geodesic torsion tg. 2.2 Curvature related networks Certain paths on a surface may avoid one of these three curvatures (Fig. 4). These specific curves hold great potential to simplify the fabrication and construction of curved grid structures. Geodesic curves have a vanishing geodesic curvature. They follow the shortest path between two points on a surface. They can be constructed from straight, planar strips tangential to the surface. Principle curvature lines have a vanishing geodesic torsion — there is no twisting of the respective structural element. They can be fabricated from curved, planar strips, and bent only around their weak axis. Their two families intersect at 90 degrees. Asymptotic curves have a vanishing normal curvature, and thus only exist on anticlastic surface-regions. Asymptotic curves combine several geometric benefits: They can be formed from straight, planar strips perpendicular to the surface. On minimal surfaces, their two families intersect at 90 degrees and bisect principle curvature lines. 1 geodesic curves principle curvature lines asymptotic curves Figure 4: Surface-curves have three curvatures: Geodesic curvature (z), geodesic torsion (x), and normal curvature (y). For each of them, if avoided, a related curve type exists: geodesic curves, principle curvature lines and asymptotic curves. 3 Eike Schling, Denis Hitrec, Jonas Schikore and Rainer Barthel 3 METHOD 3.1 Minimal surface A minimal surface is the surface of minimal area between any given boundaries. Minimal surfaces have a constant mean curvature of zero. In nature such shapes result from an equilibrium of homogeneous tension, e.g. in a soap film. Various tools are capable of approximating minimal surfaces based on meshes, with varying degrees of precision and speed (Surface Evolver, Kangaroo-SoapFilm, Millipede, etc.). They are commonly based on a method by Pinkall and Polthier (1993) 8. The Rhino-plugin TeDa (Chair of Structural Analysis, TUM) provides a tool to model minimal surfaces as NURBS, based on isotropic pre-stress fields 9. Certain minimal surfaces can be modelled via their mathematical definition. This is especially helpful as a reference when testing the accuracy of other algorithms. 3.2 Asymptotic curves Geometrically, the local direction of an asymptotic curve can be found by intersecting the surface with its own tangent plane. We developed a custom VBScript for Grasshopper/Rhino to trace asymptotic curves on NURBS-surface using differential geometry. A detailed description of this method and the generation of accurate strip models is being published parallel at the Design Modelling Symposium 2017 1. Figure 5: Enneper surface with a) asymptotic curves b) principle curvature lines c) web of both networks d) strip model of the asymptotic network 3.3 Network design Asymptotic curve networks consist of two families of curves that follow a direction field. The designer can only pick a starting point, but cannot alter their path. If the surface is locally planar, the quadrilateral network forms a singularity with a higher valence. To achieve a homogeneous network, we take advantage of the bisecting property between asymptotic curves and principle curvature lines (Fig. 5) 10. By alternately drawing each curve and using their intersections as new starting point, we create an “isothermal” web with nearly quadratic cells 11. The node to node distance, measured along the asymptotic curves, is the only variable information needed to mark the intersections on the flat and straight strips before bending and twisting them into an asymptotic support structure. 4 Eike Schling, Denis Hitrec, Jonas Schikore and Rainer Barthel 4 DESIGN 4.1 General insights A minimal surface can be defined by one (a, b), two (c), or multiple (d, e) closed boundary-curves (Fig. 6). Symmetry properties can be used to create repetitive (a, b, c) or periodic (e) minimal surfaces. Boundary-curves may consist of straight lines (a), planar curves (d), or spatial curves (b, c, e). Straight or planar curves are likely to attract singularities (a, c, d). A well-integrated edge can also be achieved by modelling a larger surface and “cookie-cutting” the desired boundary.